Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story except Akira, so back off you lawyers. I hope you enjoy my story. Please R&R!!
A Life Worth Fighting For
Prologue
A pleading scream resounded through the small town in the middle of the still night. Her cries were desperate and torn begging him not to take her precious baby girl; she was all the woman had and all she wanted. He couldn't have cared less at how she felt about the wretch that was only a pain in his backside. All the child did was complain and cry even when she got the faintest of scratches. Another ear shattering and blood-curdling yell hurdled into the night's silence.
The townsfolk had heard it all before, none wanting to get in the way of that awful, terrible man and his corrupt ways. They loved the woman and her beautiful daughter, but the father and man she married was a different matter entirely. Everyone knew they wouldn't get any sleep until the man started the customary beating that was heard for miles away and only after that did they sleep restlessly. More often than not they feared he would go on a rampage and kill everyone in town, but he never did. They needn't fear for their own lives; only the lives of that poor woman and her daughter.
Two people lay in bed in a hotel, all of the lights in the room on. They wondered what was happening because they were travelers from afar. One was a pretty, curvaceous blonde-haired beauty that looked like she was in her late twenties. The other was a petite, cute, short dark-haired girl close to the age of eleven. The younger girl crawler closer and curled up to her caretaker and mentor not used to hearing such noises as she attempted to sleep. They had only recently left their own village, the older unable to handle the demons of her past and present. Yet another scream was heard as clear as glass while the girl clung for dear life to the woman.
"It's alright, Shizune-chan," the woman reassured both herself and the child.
"Mm…" she whimpered, tears in her chocolate irises. The woman watched her Shizune with such emotion that one might be led to believe she was the mother.
The night had fortunately calmed and quieted without the struggle of body and limb normally accommodating each fight. Shizune slept peacefully, that is to say, for as long as her surrogate mother was with her.
Shortly after he young charge had fallen asleep, the woman had left the room through the window, so as to get to the bottom of the obvious treachery happening in this very town. She crept along, knowing to search for the house with the most lights on or the possible sound of crying. Coming across such a place, the seasoned ninja quietly approached the window and peered inside, her golden eyes instantly widening. A woman lied on the floor, practically drowning in her own blood. The young woman's arm was outstretched toward the door, her eyes glazed over. The kunoichi shook, knowing she had to attempt to heal the young mother, but could barely bring herself to move. She stood like that, quivering like a leaf in the wind for the longest time, until she saw the woman convulse.
The medical ninja in her kicked into gear as she rushed into the house and knelt by the dying woman. The woman was whimpering, silently pleading for death, failing to crawl to the door.
"Shh…I'm going to save you miss," the older woman said, her voice and hands trembling as they started glowing a greenish-blue over her body.
"No!" The mother gasped barely audible. She held the kunoichi's hand as it went to her chest. "Please…save my baby girl; my…daughter. I don't care…uh…what happens to me. Just…save her from him. I don't want her to go through…what I did, "she pleaded, her vision blurry and her voice faltering as death crept in.
The woman looked on, aghast; her eyes shaking from pure emotion alone.
"I love you…my…Akira…" the young woman's hand falling limp in the other woman's.
The ninja stood up and solemnly looked around the room before picking up a single stuffed pig, which had seen better days. She went back to the hotel, still shaking, and placed the animal on the dresser before quickly writing a note to Shizune that said she'd be back by eight o'clock at the latest. 'This shouldn't take long anyways' she though as she swiftly changed her clothes and washed the blood off of her.
'Blood…'
The woman took off tracking the horrible man who had harmed and killed the mother of his child and stole a defenseless girl. They hadn't gone too far, barely outside of the town's border, and the woman easily moved in front of the man. She stood, awaiting his approach.
"Huh…?" he muttered, his dark malevolent eyes narrowed, wondering what was in front of him. An angel? Definitely a beautiful creature, this being had long flowing hair, glistening in the moonlight. Her auburn eyes glowed and shook as fierce as fire, itself. Her body was that of a goddess', showing all of the right curves in all of the right places, and then some.
"Trust me, you do not want to get into a fight with me, so I suggest you leave the girl and continue on your way alone," she warned dangerously.
The man growled, anger rising in his deep voice, as the young girl squirmed in his arms. "A pretty lady like yourself shouldn't be wandering in the woods without an escort. Something bad might happen to you," he smiled wickedly, lustful eyes roaming her form.
The kunoichi sighed, two fingers already rubbing her forehead. "Heh. You have no idea who you're messing with." She swiftly disappeared and the man almost instantly felt a hard kick to his back as the 'Angel' plucked his daughter from his arms.
"Who…who are you?"
"Tsunade."
The man's eyes widened exponentially fear written too blatantly on his face.
"Now get out of here," she said through white, clenched teeth. She held the three-year-old girl on her hip. "Or I'll kill you." And he left.